Whiskey, 'world's oldest' cat, dies aged 30 in Buckinghamshire

Owner inseparable from black and white cat for 30 years devastated to put down
blind pet in Aston Clinton after equivalent of 138 human years

Born on August 1 1985, black and white pet Whiskey lived an equivalent of 138 human years. Photo: SWNS

By Agency

12:26PM BST 14 Sep 2015

A blind British cat claiming the title of the world's oldest has died a month after his 30th birthday.

Born on August 1 1985, black and white pet Whiskey lived an equivalent of 138 human years.

Whiskey survived a fire at his home last year and Ms Arnott said he put his paw over his face to stop him breathing in smoke Photo: SWNS

Owner Lorraine Arnott, 34, was only five when he was born and they have been inseparable ever since. But when he began to lose weight and struggled to walk last week, she knew it was time for him to be put down - at 30 years, one month and 10 days old.

Ms Arnott, a school transport assistant, said: "He had been ill for a few days and he could not stand up. Unfortunately, it was time to say goodbye and I could not see him suffer. I wish it was me that died, I have lost everything and I've got nothing left.

"He was better than any brother or boyfriend. There will be no replacement for him. He used to give lovely kisses by putting his paws on my chest and started kissing me on the lips."

'It was time to say goodbye and I could not see him suffer. I wish it was me that died, I have lost everything and I've got nothing left...'

- Whiskey's owner Lorraine Arnott

Ms Arnott, from Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire, buried Whiskey - who was on medication for his ailing kidneys - in the garden on Friday, September 11.

Revealing the secret to his long life, she said she had always fed Whiskey a low-protein diet during his adult life.

"But he was fussy," said Ms Arnott. "He'd always have a roast dinner with chicken or lamb too. In his last days, he ate 10 sachets of Morrisons cat food and he loved it. I gave him lots of love and he always slept under my duvet. He was always warm."

Tributes to the well-loved cat have been pouring in from friends and fans and Ms Arnott expects as many cards to come in as when her other cat Rosie died aged 25. She said Whiskey's mother, Lady, lived until 27.

Whiskey survived a fire at his home last year and Ms Arnott said he put his paw over his face to stop him breathing in smoke.

He was born with both ovaries and testes, but after an operation he was firmly a male. He lost his eyesight as a result of kidney failure.